Elegant Touch Soak ‘Em Off!

If you look at my Instagram feed, then you will notice that I am a huge fan of nail polish and tend to favour darker shades over pastel and natural with shades such as Everymonth is Oktoberfest from OPI and Overly Onyx by CND being two of my favourites. I also tend to prefer Gel or Shellac right now, but will often swap and change what I am using. Once my nails are painted, there are two things I hate - chipped polish and having to take the polish off. So when the new Elegant Touch Soak ‘Em Off Acetone Remover Sachets £7.95 arrived, I was really looking forward to giving them a try because they sounded like everything I needed in one sachet.

The Elegant Touch Soak ‘Em Off Acetone Remover Sachets’s box contains 100 sachets in total and they claim to be able to remove nail polish, press-on gel nails, glitter polishes, gel polish and acrylics. Elegant Touch describe the sachets as being "innovative and groundbreaking with no-mess and no-stress, simply peel, wrap around the nail and leave on for 10 minutes before removing to reveal clean & healthy nails”. The one issue I had, is that had I not looked online for instructions, I would have had no clue how long to leave them on my nails. Within the box you just get the 100 sachets and are told to Buff, insert, wrap and remove, so quite simple but... buff with what? There is no buffer within the box, I tried to buff using the wipe but that just soaked off all the acetone. Thankfully I do have a buffer and figured out if I used that to break the polish to allow the acetone to sink it, it would help. So that is what I did.

Then removing the strips from the sachet is the easiest part of this task. Inside the sachets is a rectangular piece of cotton-like material which is coated, not too heavily, in a peach scented acetone based polish remover, which smells quite nice. Wrapping the strip around the finger is fine, but then it is findly getting it into the sachet without misplacing the strip, once it is in the sachet, you need to somehow ensure it doesn't fall off, so I used some popbands to secure one in place before attempting to do other fingers. Some advice, only do a few fingers at a time, otherwise it gets harder and harder to complete the task in hand and all of a sudden you feel like Edward Scissorhands. The other issue is that the box doesn't tell you how long to leave the sachets in place, thankfully online it says for at least 10 minutes, so whilst I had one hand wrapped, I went on instagram, liked a whole load of posts and then began the removal process.

Anyone who has removed gel or shellac nails in the past will know you need a further tool to essentially scrap the shriveled polish from your nails, so again, thankfully I had my own to use because there wasnt one included, despite being pictured on the box. So the removal of the nail polish, which in my case was gel, wasn't too much of an effort, the strips themselves do need to be soaked in more acetone if I am honest, but they do an alright job, more so because I added my own polish remover to the strip and then used my own UV light to encourage the acetone to further break down the polish.

I was really hoping these sachets would be as innovative and groundbreaking as I was expecting them to be, but sadly, I think they need a little more work and then they could be absolutely amazing and a definite must have item for those of us who like our painted nails. 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Why are Diamonds a Girl’s Best Friend?

We all know that Marilyn Monroe song that immortalised diamonds as the gems that women all over the world covet, but why are diamonds really considered a girl’s best friend?

Image Credit - Golden Unicorn

Diamonds have been charming us for centuries and even as time passes and trends come and go their popularity has never waned. The enchanting stone has been admired for centuries, Ancient Hindus believed they were bolts of lightning, whilst other ancient cultures proclaimed that they were the tears of gods. There has always been a magical aura surrounding the gem.

These stones are glittering and many have fallen under their spell. They are sparkling, dazzling and are simply beautiful. They’ll always look stunning, whether you’re in jeans and a t-shirt or a glamorous evening gown, and they definitely help to elevate your style. It’s true that we have all fallen for their twinkling looks, but there’s so much more to diamonds than this.

Diamonds are a symbol of everlasting love. They have been synonymous with engagement rings for years, associating the stone with commitment and true love. Although there has been a surge in coloured gemstones in engagement rings it still tends to be a beautiful diamond that hopeless romantics dream of. When someone receives a diamond ring it symbolises their love, along with the promise that you’ll be together forever. A diamond manages to make a million promises without saying a word. It’s an everlasting token of your relationship and a truly sentimental piece of jewellery. The romance of a diamond is undeniable.

But diamonds don’t just have to be for engagements. A beautiful piece of diamond jewellery can be given to show your love to anyone important to you, your mother, sister or friend. Diamonds tend to mark a celebration and are often given on special occasions. This means that as well as being valuable they are usually emotional. They can hold memories and will always mean something special to you. Every piece of diamond jewellery has a story to tell.

As well as being a girl’s best friend, diamonds are also forever! A beautiful piece of diamond jewellery will never go out of style and will always be truly timeless. Fashion icons are constantly spotted in beautiful diamond pieces, from simple pieces in their off-duty look to stunning, statement styles on the red carpet.  Diamonds will always transcend trends and for years women have gone weak at the knees for a stunning piece of diamond jewellery. No matter how many times you change your wardrobe, you’ll never grow tired of a diamond.

As Elizabeth Taylor said: “Into every girl’s life a little diamond should fall.”

Laings of Glasgow, in the Argyll Arcade and online, are experts when it comes to diamonds. With over 175 years’ experience of selling fine diamonds, Laings can offer expert advice and service when making your purchase. Buying a piece of diamond jewellery is always going to be a big decision and so to put your mind at ease Laings only stock the highest quality gems, always taking into account the 4 C’s (Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat). This ensures you’re getting the best value for your money.

Whatever the occasion you’re bound to find a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery that will soon become someone’s best friend! 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Pixi Beauty Facial Mists

One thing that I love is a facial mist and I have mentioned my love of it on this blog quite a few times (here, here, here and here) and I simply love them. So to add to my delight comes Pixi with not one, not two but FOUR and I am sure you can imagine my excitement!

Facial mists comes in all different shapes, sizes and they all have different reasons for use - a boost of hydration, a primer, a little pick-me-up, skin calming, skin refreshment, targeting redness, targeting dryness and so much more. For me, they are an integral part of my skincare regime and I always have a few different ones I use at any one time.

So what do Pixi have for you with their four options?

PIXI Glow Mist - Firstly this is not Glow Tonic as a spray, though I do think that could work, instead what it is described as being an all-over glow mist for a radiant, dewy effect. 

It is formulated with 13 natural oils plus propolis, aloe vera and fruit extracts which include Tea Tree Oil, Lavender, Rose & Lemon Peel Oil, Aloe Vera Juice, Avocado Oil and everyone's friend Hyaluronic Acid this spray not only hydrates, protects and nourishes it is also suitable for all skin types. Add to that it also sets makes to add that dewiness, it is quite simply brilliant.

PIXI Vitamin Wake Up Mist - This is described as being a boosting Treatment Toner mist gives a revitalised awakened effect to complexion and therefore makes it perfect for that morning skin boost. Using an orange blossom water base which is blended with skin-loving citrus fruit extracts, lavendar, and arginine. 

What I love about this mist is that you can use in so many ways and my favourite is after cleansing because it sure does give you a boost. You can also use it over makeup, to refresh your makeup or to kick you awake when you want to sleep mid-afternoon.

PIXI Makeup Fixing Mist - Pretty much as the name suggests, this is an all-over setting spray for longer-wearing makeup. 

This mist is infused with both rose water and green tea which comforts, protects and balances skin and it also helps to prolong makeup wear and keeps it from moving, melting, and settling into fine lines or pores which is pretty impressive.

PIXI Hydrating Milky Mist - This is possibly my favourite of the four and it is described as being deeply hydrating mist that provides an invisible layer of skin-soothers, making it the ultimate remedy for dry skin. 

Once spritzed it is incredibly lightweight on the skin and as it is a hydrating mist it again contains hyaluronic acid alongside a blend of black oat, provitamin A, and linoleic acid which makes this mist the perfect first layer of moisture before serums or makeup and if like me you often suffer from dry skin, this is a delight to use.
So there you have four different facial mists from Pixi, all of whom have their very own job to do and all of whom I absolutely adore for very different reasons but there is of course every reason to try your hand at #MultiMisting and layering the mists, something I have just started to try!

Have you tried any of these? 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

The Beauty Regime You Need To Survive Summer 2017

As soon as spring ends, our wardrobes and beauty regimes are all about embracing the (hopefully) scorching summer heat. With the changing seasons comes changes to our lifestyles and routines to reflect the summer sun. From our food habits to skin and hair we are starting to get ready for summertime.

Here we discuss the beauty products you need to have a beauty regime ready to embrace summer 2017:

A Pearly White Smile

Very often our beauty regimes target the skin and hair but never really tackle our teeth. This can mean that even with beautiful skin, fantastic hair and a great pair of shorts we can be sat with discoloured teeth that aren’t doing anything for our confidence.

When summer arrives you should make sure to book in for an appointment with London City Smiles to talk about a smile transformation. This might be a teeth whitening or even a complete cosmetic dentistry smile makeover. Whatever your teeth need, London City Smiles can help.

A Good Face Wash For Fresh Glowing Skin

In the sunny days, your skin is bound to get affected by the scorching heat. In this case, it is important that you use a good face wash to remove the impurities from your skin and keep it free from oil and dirt. The face wash will play a vital role in keeping your skin clean and fresh.

Moisturise Deeply

You may think that as winters are gone, you can escape from those time-consuming lotions to moisturise your skin. But, it is not true. Your skin will need the same amount of moisturiser even in the hot sunny days. 

Lock in your bodies natural moisture by applying oil or a good moisturiser immediately after the shower. It will lock in the natural oils of your skin and maintain the moisture keeping your skin hydrated.

Right Shampoo And Conditioner

Just like your skin, your scalp also needs good care in the summertime. The heat of the sun will make your scalp go dry even more so if you go for a sunbathe or swimming. This is because the chlorine will affect your hair and scalp badly and will make it dry. So, it is very important that you use the right shampoo and conditioner before you step in the sea or the swimming pool.

Use A Good Sunscreen

On the hot sunny days, it is crucial that you protect your skin from the scorching heat. For this, you can use a good sunscreen which will give you a protective shield against the burning heat. It will also prevent the skin from getting burnt.

Make sure that you are protected with a good sunscreen before you step out in the scorching heat. Also, see to it that your sunscreen lotion contains a good amount of SPF that will help your skin combat the heat.

Replace Those Soap Bars With Mild Shower Gels

In the summers, give your skin some rest from the tiring effects of soap which can heavily dry out your skin. Try using shower gels instead that do not have a high amount of pH which is harmful to your skin like soap does.

All that is left to do now is enjoy your summer!

*this post contains a paid for link